Combined radiator and boiler



Nov.117,19 25. 1,561,591

I L. G. BOSTEDO COMBINED RADIATOR AND B OILER Filed July-12 1924 111207115 Lam's a$0md Patented Nov. 17, 1925,

UNITED stares 1,561,591 PATENT oricn.

LOUIS (3-. IBOS'I'EDO, 01? OAK PARK, ILLINOIS.

COMBINED RADIATOR AND BOILER.

Application filed July 12,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LoUIs G. Bosrrno, a citizen of the United States,residing at Oak Park, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Radiators andBoilers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to radiators used as heating agents for domesticand otherpurposes, and has reference more particularly to that type ofradiators wherein the radiator is equipped with its own heating agentand constitutes an independent heating unit.

Radiators of the combined radiator and boiler type wherein a body ofwater is heated by fluid and solid fuel and circulated as hot water orsteam through the tubes of the radiator are known. My present invention,in contradistinction to these, employs an electric boiler for heatingthe water and preferably converting the same into steam which iscirculated through the radiator tubes, condensed thereby as it gives offits heat, and returns to the boiler, thereby providing a closed systemwherein the water re quires to be replenished only at long intervals andin small quantities to supply suchdeficiency as may arise throughleakage of steam and water vapor.

My invention also includes a novel construction and organization ofelectric boiler which, as applied to a radiator, is preferablyincorporated in one of the legs thereof, but which is capable ofadvantageous use in other relations and for other purposes.

One object of my invention is to provide a practical and efiieientradiator unit of the general type above described wherein the water orsteam used as the heat carrier may be heated or generated byan electriccurrent. Another object is to provide a radiator unit of the combinedradiator and boiler type which can be cheaply and economicallymanufactured and installed, and shall be independent and easilyportable. Another object is to provide av radiator of this type whichshall be automatic in its heating effect, yielding a higher degree ofheat under conditions of room temperature requiring the same andyielding a lower degree of heat under higher room" temperatureconditions.

Other objects and attendant advantages of the invention will be apparentto persons skilled in the art as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following de 1924. Serial No. 225,592.

tailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawingwherein Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in vertical section, of thecomplete outfit; and

Fig. 2 is an elevation, at right angles to Fig. 1, of one of theradiator floor supports or feet.

Referring to the drawing, 10 designates as an entirety the heatradiating element proper herein conventionally shown as comprising apair of upright tubes 11 connected by parallel transverse tubes 12. Sofar as the broad features of the present invention are concerned, anyother structure of radiator proper may be employed.

The vertical elements 11 of the radiator are supported upon verticallegs designated as an entirety by 13 in turn resting upon feet 14.

One of the legs 13 constitutes the heating element of an electric boilerfor heating the water or converting it into steam for circulationthrough the radiator tubes 11 and 12. As herein shown the leg at theleft hand is structurally organized to constitute such element, andreferring to the details thereof, 15 designates a rod constituting apositive electrode which extends downwardly through the left hand limb11 of the radiator suitably insulated therefrom by a bushing 15 andthrough a T-coupling 16 connected to the lower end thereof, terminatingin a block or disc 17 below the lower end of the coupling 16 andinsulated from the latter by a block 18. 19 designates a pipe ofcast-iron or other suitable metal, the upper end of which is enteredinto the lower end of the coupling 16 and the lower end of which isentered into the upper end of the hollow foot 1 1-. Within and coaxialwith the pipe- 19 is a second pipe 20 preferably of brass, into theupper end of which the electrode block or disc 17 is fitted, and thelower end of which rests upon another insulating block 21 that overliesthe foot member 14; and is in turn supported by an intermediate block 22from a plug 23 which closes the lower end of the central member of thefoot 14. The upper and lower ends of the tube 20 are provided with oneor more holes 20, plac ing the annular spaces on both sides of the tube2O in communication.

24 designates an electrode rod, preferably of brass, located within andpreferably coaxial with the tubes 19 and 20, the upper end of saidrodrcarrying an insulating cap 25, and its lower end resting upon theinsulating block 21. The lower end of the rod 24 has an axial socket orbore 26 in which slidably fits a rod 27 extending downwardly through thesupporting block 22 into the plug 23, from which latter a line 28 leadsto any suitable ground. The slip connection 26, 27 avoids the necessityof cutting parts to exact lengths and also takes care of expansion andcontraction of the rod 21 while maintaining a continuous circuit to theground. The rod 2t may be dispensed with, since its function is onlyauxiliary to the tube 19 to increase the electrode surface.

Fig. 2 shows one practical form of the ground supports or feet of theradiator the same being made up of a cross fitting 29, the upper limb ofwhich receives the outside pipe 19 and the lower limb of which is closedby the plug 23, and a pair of oppositely extending elbow fittings 30,the lower ends of which are closed by plugs 31. The inner opposed sidesof the cross fitting 29 are also formed with tapped bosses which are connected by a horizontal pipe in which is included a cross fitting 3lforn'iing the lower support for a gauge tube 35 and carrying adepending drain cock The upper end of the gauge tube 35 is connectedinto the T-fitting 16 through an elbow o? and a short pipe section 38.

The leg 13 on the other side of the radiae tor is. as herein shown,composed of a pipe 39 at its upper end connected into a Y-fitting 40 andat its lower end into the central upstanding limb 29' of the other footmember 1 1-. The branch 4:0 of the Y-litting 40 con stitutes a filleropening for water and is closed by a plug 11 which preferably has a linehole 41 to vent the interior of the pipe 39 to the atmosphere. The righthand limb 11 of the radiator proper is not joined to the fitting so butmerely rests thereon, and to lock the parts against lateral displacementthe lower end of the limb 11 is preferably fitted with a bushing 12screwed therein and proj ect-ing into a countersink 13 in the upper endof. the fitting 40. The bushing 42 is tapped to receive the upper end ofa pipe 14E that extends downwardly through the fitting 40 and preferablythrough the pipe 39 and into, and nearly to the bottom, of the lowerlimb of the cross fitting 29. This pipe 39 serves to conduct condensedsteam from the radiator proper back to the boiler. Into the lower end ofthe right hand vertical limb 11 of the radiator is connected an ordinaryair vent 45.

In the practical use and operation of the radiator, water is supplied tothe boiler through the filler opening 40 to a suitable level such asthat indicated by the dotted line XX in Fig. 1. At the start, the Waterlevel is, of course, equal in both legs. The current having been turnedon, the circuit of flow is down through the electrode 15 and its foot 17to the pipe 20, thence across the water filling the annular spaces onboth sides of the pipe 20 to the outer pipe 19 and the centralelectroderod 2%, and from both of the latter to the ground. The passage of thecurrent across the annular water columns rapidly generates steam whichflows upwardly into and through the radiator proper. As the steam coolsand condenses the condensate flows down the pipe 14 joining with thecolumn of water surrounding the lower portion of said pipe. Steam isthus being simultaneously generated in one leg of the radiator,condensed in the heat radiating element, and returned in the oppositeleg to the body of water from which it is formed.

An important feature and advantage ofthe temperature in said room, themore rapid is the condensation of the steam and the higher the vacuumformed in the radia tor tubes, and consequently the water level in theboiler leg containing the electrodes rises thereby exposing a greatersurface area of the water to the passage of the current and consequentlygenerating an increased volume of steam. Conversely, as the temperaturein the room rises, the condensation of steam is slower, the vacuum inthe radiator decreases, the water level in the said boiler leg falls,the area. of water exposed to the heating action of the current isdecreased, and the volume of steam generated is decreased. It will thusbe seen that the radiator does not require any mechanical thermostat orlike regulating device but, by virtue of its own construction,automatically takes care of changes of temperature in the room andautomatically supplies the required volume of heat within certainlimits. If more heat is required, more water is supplied to the boiler.A slight evaporation, of course, occurs gradually through the filleropening which is vented to the atmosphere, as described, but in practicethe system will require refilling at comparatively long intervals only.The wire drawing of air through the filler plug vent 41 steadies theboiling at the electrodes and reduces the fluctuations in level of thewater. The boiling capacity may be changed within a considerable rangeby increasing or decreasing the volume of water in the boiler.

I claim-- '1. In a combined radiator and boiler, the combination with ahollow heat radiating structure, of an electric water heater including awater electrode continuous with said heat radiating structure andforming with the latter an independent heat generating and radiatingunit.

2. In a combined radiator and boiler, the combination with a tubularheat radiating structure, of an electric water heater including a waterelectrode underlying and supporting said tubular heat radiatingstructure and forming with the latter an in dependent heat generatingand radiating unit.

3. In a combined radiator and boiler, the combination with a hollow heatradiating structure, of an electric steam generator in cluding a waterelectrode underlying and supporting said heat radiating structure andsupplying steam to the latter, and means for returning condensed steamfrom said heat radiating structure to said boiler; said elementsunitedly constituting an independ-' ent heat generating and radiatingunit.

at. In a combined radiator and boiler, the combination with a tubularheat radiating structure, of an electric steam generator including awater electrode underlying and supporting said heat radiating structureand supplying steam to one end of the latter, and a pipe for returningcondensed steam from the opposite end of said heat radiating structureto said boiler; said elements unitedly constituting an independent heatgenerating and radiating unit.

5. In a combined radiator and boiler, the combination with a tubularheat radiating structure, of hollow supporting legs continuous therewithand a pipe connecting said legs, said legs and pipe constituting aboiler structure, and electrical means in said boiler structure forconverting water therein into steam.

6. In a combined radiator and boiler, the combination with a hollow heatradiating structure, Off hollow supporting legs continuous therewith anda pipe connecting the lower portions of said legs, said legs and pipeconstituting a boiler structure, and electrical means in one of saidlegs for heating the Water in said boiler.

7. In a combined radiator and boiler, the combination with a hollow heatradiating structure, of hollow supporting legs continuous therewith anda pipe connecting the lower portions of said legs, said legs and pipeconstituting a boiler structure, electrical means in one of said legsfor converting water in said boiler into steam, and a pipe for returningcondensed steam from said heat radiating structure to another leg ofsaid boiler.

8. An electric water heater, comprising a tubular electrode connected toone side of a source of electric current, and a second tubular electrodeof less diameter disposed coaxially within and insulated from saidfirstnamed electrode and connected to the other side of said source; theannular space between said electrodes adapted to contain a body of waterheated by the passage of the current through the same.

9. An electric water heater, comprising an apertured tubular electrode,a second tubular electrode surrounding and insulated from saidfirst-named electrode, and an elec trode rod within and insulated fromsaid first-named tubular electrode; said firstnamed electrode beingconnected to one side of a source of electric current, and said secondelectrode and said electrode rod being connected to the other side ofsaid source; and the annular spaces between said electrodes adapted tocontain a body of water heated by the passage 01": the current throughthe same.

LOUIS G. BOSTEDO.

